DECEMBER 2014
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Wednesday 31 December 2014 |
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It was no
surprise that Uttoxeter was lost today, but Warwick didn’t survive the freeze
either; so no results today. It was
very cold when I walked to work this morning; white pavements every working
day morning this week. I’m always
surprised at the number of joggers who decide to go out for a run very early;
there was even one guy running in the dark at 06:45 today! I wasn’t out at that time, I saw him run
past my home! Crazy people. And when I
was walking home at lunch time I saw a red kite soaring over my residential
area looking for carrion. They are commonplace in the Chilterns having been
reintroduced, but far from common near my home. In fact I only recall seeing one once
before in this particular locality; although they are more frequent visitors
to the countryside between Hemel Hempstead and St Albans. There are
five National Hunt fixtures tomorrow – Catterick, Cheltenham, Exeter,
Fakenham and Musselburgh. That will be
another nightmare on RUK, having to juggle four of these! Mind you, Boxing Day was even worse with
five! Cheltenham: 13:20 Ned
Stark (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Dipper Novices’ Chase (Grade 2). 13:55
Champion Court (Martin Keighley/Conor Shoemark) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 5
furlongs] 14:30
Ulzana’s Raid (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles] 15:40
Elkstone (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Laughingalltheway (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Standard Open NH Flat Race Exeter: 14:20
Altesse De Guye (Martin Keighley/Tom Bellamy) – NH Novices’ Hurdle 14:55
Shadarpour (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) & Hindon Road (Alan King/Daryl Jacob)
– Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs] 15:30
Flementime (Martin Keighley/Tom Bellamy) – Beginners’ Chase 16:00
Ballochmyle (Alan King/Jack Doyle) – Maiden Standard Open Flat Race I made a
start on my Kempton diary race notes yesterday evening but got side-tracked
this afternoon, having been allowed home at 13:00. I discovered Death Comes to Pemberley on
one of the freeview channels and, as I missed the serial when first shown on
TV, decided to watch it instead. I
love a period drama! James Norton was
in it too ... loved him in Grantchester.
The Musketeers returns on Friday ... also lovely eye candy! Santiago Cabrera, who plays Aramis, is my
favourite. |
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Tuesday 30 December 2014 |
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Happy Birthday to William Thornton 4 today Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Taunton: Pattara (Noel
Williams/Gerard Tumelty) finished 7th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 1
furlong] (17 ran). Friendly
Society (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 6th in the Handicap Hurdle
[3 miles & 1½ furlongs] (9 ran). Howwrongcanyoube
(Alan King/Tom Bellamy) clipped heels and slipped up and McCabe Creek (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) was a non-runner in the Novices’ Hurdle (13 ran). Dusky
Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Mares’ Novices’
Hurdle (12 ran). Bar A Mine
(Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 4th in the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap
Hurdle (14 ran). There was
controversy at the track, with hurdles being omitted during three of the
races due to the low sun. But
steeplechases interleaved these races without fences being bypassed. More
Tomorrow
there is National Hunt racing at Uttoxeter, subject to an 08:30 inspection,
and from Warwick too: 14:20
Spanish Arch (Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) – Handicap Chase (Jockey Club
Grassroots Jumps Series Qualifier) 14:50
Gabriella Rose (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) & Altesse De Guye (Martin
Keighley/Tom Bellamy) – Mares’ National Novices’ Hurdle 15:50
Ballochmyle (Alan King/Jack Doyle) & Sutton Mac (Martin Keighley/Conor
Shoemark) – Standard Open NH Flat Race Today’s
escape from work time was 14:00 but, as I was having problems with our colour
printer, I didn’t leave the office until 14:20. Typical; the colour printer/photocopier is
useless and I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to stay after
hours to wait for items to finish because it jams every few minutes. I’ve now got fingers crossed for a finish
time of 13:00 tomorrow. I’m hoping
that I’ve calculated my holiday correctly, if so, I’ve still got 5 days to
take before the end of February or I lose them. As hoped,
birthday boy William is being looked after by Choc at the present time and
they spent the day with his grandparents and cousins. J Choc is
going for his scans on Monday, 05 January, my birthday. Vertebrae C7 and T1 are the problem (bottom
of neck and top of back). Fingers ...
and everything ... crossed for good news.
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Monday 29 December 2014 |
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It was a sunny
but very cold day at Newbury but racing went ahead, as covers had been
deployed a couple of days ago.
Doncaster and Kelso were lost due to the frost; even the all-weather
racing at Southwell was abandoned today! Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Newbury: Desert Joe
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Limited Handicap
Chase (11 ran). Ziga Boy
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) unseated 3 out in the Mandarin Handicap Chase [3
miles 2½ furlongs] (7 ran). As expected,
Sprinter Sacre undertook a pre-racing gallop and schooling session at Newbury
today. More The Grade
1 Challow Hurdle was won by the John Ferguson-trained Parlour Games. More And
Hurricane Fly won Leopardstown’s Ryanair Hurdle today, for the fourth
time. More Tomorrow’s
Haydock Park fixture has been abandoned due to frost, but there are runners
of interest at Taunton: 13:00
Pattara (Noel Williams/Gerard Tumelty) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 1
furlong] 13:30
Friendly Society (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles
& 1½ furlongs] 14:00
Howwrongcanyoube (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) & McCabe Creek (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle 15:00
Dusky Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 16:00 Bar A
Mine (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Evidently
there is a strain of flu doing the rounds which is not one of the varieties
included in this season’s inoculation.
My elderly aunt and uncle picked up this flu bug just before Christmas
and have been extremely poorly over the holiday period despite having had the
flu vaccination. So, if my elderly
mother or I succumb to it, we will have no defence either. Damn. Well that
was a bit more than half a day’s work ... I arrived in the office at 08:40
this morning expecting to work until not much after 13:00 ... but we didn’t
get the okay to leave until 15:00, after which I’d already worked through my
lunch hour. So I worked just an hour
and 10 minutes less than my normal contracted time. Disappointing. I wonder what time we will be let out of ‘school’ tomorrow. But, hopefully, the office will be warmer
tomorrow – my colleague wore her coat in the office today; I didn’t, but did
feel quite cold despite wearing a thermal t-shirt, sweater and fleece. Ian Popham
was discharged from hospital yesterday and is recovering at home. Wishing him a speedy recovery; he deserves
a change of luck. It is
Choc’s son’s birthday tomorrow; William will be 4. Choc mentioned that he will shortly have
William again for 6 days so, hopefully, this includes tomorrow. Sadly I don’t think it was his turn to have
his son for Christmas this year, as he’s not riding at the moment. Having
been busy at work today and arrived home later than expected, I’ve not worked
on my diary. However, I have now
selected and uploaded my photographs. Click here to view the photo
gallery index. |
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Sunday 28 December 2014 |
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I forgot
to mention Uxizandre, who ran at Leopardstown yesterday. He was very disappointing, probably because
he was unable to dictate the pace after the fifth fence, having made a
jumping error. Everyone knows he needs
a left-handed track like Leopardstown but AP got very close to the inside wing
on a couple of occasions too which wouldn’t have helped. I know AP won on him at Aintree, but I
reckon Barry Geraghty and Choc suit him better! More Road To
Riches won the Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown today. More Ian Popham
had an operation on his jaw yesterday, having sustained mouth and jaw
injuries at Market Rasen on Boxing Day.
It’s his birthday today, so will be hoping to be discharged from
hospital. That makes him a Capricorn,
like me and young William Thornton too.
Choc has
been bemoaning the fact that he received a parking ticket on 23 December; he
hates traffic wardens. So I won’t tell
him that I harbour a secret desire to be a traffic warden! However, if he’s still got his personalised
number plates I’d know it was his car and I’d let him get away with it ...
but no-one else would!!! Racing UK
broadcast a number of very interesting programmes from behind the scenes and
I caught the end of one of their repeats on Christmas morning. They visited Midnight Legend at stud, and
the presenter was introduced to three very friendly yearlings in one of the
paddocks. One was a brother of the ill-fated
Tiqris, another was a colt out of Call Me A Legend by Passing Glance, who
also stands at the stud and serves Midnight Legend’s daughters. I remember Call Me A Legend well; she
retired in 2011 and was trained by Alan King.
They also have Call Me A Star at the stud; no surprise from her name
that she’s a full sister to Call Me A Legend (their dam being Second Call),
but three year’s younger! And more
feisty! She retired last November,
also having been trained by Alan King.
The third was a very dark grey filly, whose mum is Katchit’s dam’s
sister. Greys run in his family, as
Katchit’s mum was a grey! Tomorrow
there is racing from Kelso and Newbury; Doncaster having been abandoned due
to snow. The snow certainly came from
‘left-field’ and has disrupted
racing in a belt across the country – Leicestershire to South Yorkshire,
North Wales to Lincolnshire. Racing
north of it wasn’t affected yesterday, with Wetherby in North Yorkshire going
ahead. Kempton Park experienced far
more sunshine than Hertfordshire yesterday; we only saw the sun for around
half an hour during late morning. Newbury: (subject to a 07:30
inspection) 13:05
Desert Joe (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 13:35 Ziga
Boy (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mandarin Handicap Chase [3 miles 2½
furlongs] And me,
I’m working tomorrow; hopefully it will be for solely half a day on each of
the next three days as is usually the case between Christmas and the New
Year. I may need
to visit the city centre after work on one of the days ... not for the sales,
but to collect a pair of black boots I ordered online having seen them in the
Hotter sale on Christmas Eve; £40 off!
That was very naughty of me, yet again! I love Hotter shoes and boots but they are
a touch on the expensive side, which is why I’ve only bought them when there
is a special offer or, now, a sale. I like to
buy comfy boots from M & S but, for the past couple of seasons, they’ve
not stocked the kind of flexible/supple ankle boots I need for walking any
kind of distance during the winter months i.e. to and from work. I have two or three pairs at present which
have almost reached the end of their life but I cannot find similar
replacements. It’s annoying. Especially
as I need to be selective, as the stitching on some boots rubs the skin sore
on my legs and it takes days or weeks for the redness to completely
disappear. I bought
my burgundy M & S ankle boots in October 2013, and this autumn a pair of
grey M & S ones; they are both heeled and ‘clompy’, ideal for racing but not for long distances. I wasn’t expecting so many of my racing
plans to be put on hold this season ... or even indefinitely if the worst
comes to the worst. L I’ve now
completed the top and tail of my Kempton Park diary; although I am suffering
from intermittent headaches and slight dizziness at the present time; I’m
positive this is because of my cervical spondylosis. I’m very achy and creaky too, with
stiffness in my shoulders. I’ll be glad
to loosen up with a walk to work tomorrow.
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Saturday 27 December 2014 |
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I didn’t
need a snorkel or a sledge this morning after all ... Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Kempton Park: Balder
Succes (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Desert Orchid Chase
(Grade 2) (5 ran). Irish-raider
Special Tiara led all the way at a scorching pace under Barry Geraghty. The winner did that once before, at
Aintree. So I guess it will be two and
a half miles for Balder from now on; I’d prefer it that way, as it was scary
seeing the horses travelling so fast. Chatez
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished a disappointing 8th in the Handicap
Hurdle [2 miles] (11 ran); but he’s just a juvenile, and he pulled hard
too. Chepstow: Darnitnev
(Martin Keighley/Tom Bellamy) finished 8th in the Maiden Hurdle (14 ran). Karezak
(Alan King/Aidan Coleman) finished 2nd in the Future Champion Finale Juvenile
Hurdle (Grade 1) (10 ran). Midnight
Prayer (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) was a non-runner in the Welsh Grand National
(19 ran). Here is
the report regarding the Desert Orchid Chase. More Vibrato
Valtat won the Grade 2 two mile Novices’ Chase. More It was good to see
Deep Trouble walk away from an awful fall at the last. The Nigel
Twiston-Davies trained Bristol De Mai won the Grade 1 Future Champion Finale
Juvenile Hurdle. More The Welsh
Grand National was won by the Venetia Williams trained Emperor’s Choice, by
just a short-head from Benvolio. More
I was
mightily relieved as for a moment, it appeared that the Irish had stolen the
race with Glenquest! Martin
Keighley reports that Ian Popham sustained facial injuries in yesterday’s
fall at Market Rasen. It made horrible
viewing; Ian’s mount was leading at the time and brought down a second horse,
with another falling separately too.
One appeared to kick him in the head and another rolled over him. Ouch. As I write
this blog entry I haven’t begun my Kempton Park diary, but I have transferred
yesterday’s racing to DVD. There’s
racing at Leicester (subject to an inspection) and Catterick tomorrow, but no
runners of interest. |
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Friday 26 December 2014 |
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King
George VI Chase pre-race parade; Al Ferof
at the head of it Unfortunately
the weather conditions at Kempton Park today were not conducive to taking photos
with such a basic camera as mine. With
the light fading fast, the photograph above was one of the last I managed to
take before they became too blurred. Having
seen the weather forecast earlier in the week I was still expecting a cold,
dry but bright day ... it was anything but by the time the feature race
arrived. In fact I gave up after the
King George, leaving before the final race of the day. It was so wet that my hair was almost
dripping as I set off on my drive home.
And I certainly didn’t enjoy my drive home along the M3 and M25, with
all the surface water and spray. And will
there be a dusting of snow tomorrow?
Sadly,
little went according to plan for today’s runners of interest too: Kempton Park: Uriah Heep
(Alan King/Tom Bellamy) was pulled up in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
(9 ran). Carraig
Mor (Alan King/Noel Fehily) unseated at the 8th and Creepy (Martin
Keighley/Conor Shoemark) was pulled up having made a bad blunder and lost
touch in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (7 ran). The Kauto
Star Novices’ Chase was an attritional race, with only three completing. Favourite Saphir Du Rheu slipped and fell
having landed over the 7th, and Sausalito Sunrise fell 6 out. Basically, Coneygree put pressure on all of
his rivals by travelling well and putting in a clear round; he won by 40
lengths from Warden Hill and ‘pony’
Virak. More There was
no surprise with Faugheen running away with the Grade 1 Christmas
Hurdle. More And, of
course, Silviniaco Conti retained the King George VI Chase having won the
race last year. Yet another victory in
the event for trainer Paul Nicholls.
Yawn! More Wincanton: Avispa
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (18
ran). Kerrow
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 9th in the Standard Open NH Flat Race
(13 ran). Towcester: Seymour
Star (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) finished 5th in the NH Novices’ Hurdle
(Qualifier) (11 ran). Kyles
Faith (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) finished 6th in the NH Novices’ Handicap
Hurdle (Qualifier) (7 ran). Fontwell Park: Chance
Taken (Noel Williams/Joshua Moore) finished 4th in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
(9 ran). Vautour
dead-heated for second at Leopardstown, having made a bad error from which he
never recovered; Clarcam won the race.
More Uxizandre
runs in the Grade 1 Chase at Leopardstown tomorrow, off time 13:20. More Ian Popham
was injured at Market Rasen when Withoutdefavourite fell; I’m not sure what
his injury is, but I’m sure Martin Keighley will report further news. Wayne Hutchinson rode his 19th
winner of the
season today, aboard Loch Ba at Wincanton. Tomorrow’s
runners of interest are as follows: Kempton Park: 13:40
Balder Succes (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Desert Orchid Chase (Grade 2) 15:25
Chatez (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] Chepstow: 12:25
Darnitnev (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Maiden Hurdle; jockey subject to
further news. 13:55
Karezak (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) – Future Champion Finale Juvenile Hurdle
(Grade 1) 14:35
Midnight Prayer (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Welsh Grand National By
tomorrow, I expect everyone to require either snorkels or sledges! |
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Tuesday 22 December 2014 |
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Merry Christmas everyone Here are
Boxing Day’s runners of interest: Kempton Park: 13:25
Uriah Heep (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 14:00
Carraig Mor (Alan King/Noel Fehily) & Creepy (Martin Keighley/Conor
Shoemark) – Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) There are
ten declarations for the King George VI Chase – Al Ferof, Champagne Fever,
Cue Card, Double Ross, Dynaste, Johns Spirit, Menorah, Silviniaco Conti,
Wishfull Thinking and Wonderful Charm.
With Richard Johnson currently serving his unfortunate ban, Tom
O’Brien rides Menorah and Barry Geraghty has been booked to ride Wishfull
Thinking. Wincanton: 12:30
Avispa (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 15:55
Kerrow (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Standard Open NH Flat Race Towcester: 13:00
Seymour Star (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) – NH Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) 14:10
Kyles Faith (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) – NH Novices’ Handicap Hurdle
(Qualifier) Fontwell Park: 12:55
Chance Taken (Noel Williams/Joshua Moore) – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Well,
there’s a thing ... Masterson Holdings who own Carraig Mor, and Balder
Succes, have decided to re-engage the services of Noel Fehily who won aboard
Carriag Mor at Newbury when Wayne was on the injury sidelines last
month. Choc used to ride their horses,
but he went out of favour following a number of reversals, after which Wayne
took over. Now Wayne appears to have
gone out of favour too, having been plagued by injury absences in recent
months. It can be a fickle game;
weekend indications were that Wayne would be at Kempton Park, with Tom
Bellamy and Denis O’Regan riding for the yard at Wincanton. There will
be a post-Christmas treat for Sprinter Sacre fans – it is expected he will
have a workout and schooling session at Newbury next Monday prior to racing
taking place. More Choc has tweeted a photo of William helping out at his new stable
yard; evidently there will be around 12 loose boxes once the building is
complete. https://twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/547352991284875264/photo/1 My Aintree
Festival tickets and car parking passes arrived yesterday. It always puts my mind at rest when ordered
tickets are safely delivered! Just half a
day’s work now until Christmas, but it has been busy with no sign of a
slow-down. I worked almost 10 hours
without a break yesterday and around 9 today, although I did have a short
lunch break. |
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Sunday 21 December 2014 |
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Tomorrow is
the last race day before Christmas and there’s just one National Hunt fixture
– Bangor-On-Dee – no runners of interest but larger field sizes than
recently, with 62 runners before defections! The 2014
Lesters take place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole tomorrow evening. There are
eight National Hunt fixtures on Boxing Day – Fontwell Park, Huntingdon,
Kempton Park, Market Rasen, Sedgefield, Towcester, Wetherby and
Wincanton. Later in the week I will
need to check the declarations for Fontwell Park, Kempton Park, Towcester and
Wincanton, as they are the four fixtures with possible runners of interest. The 2002
Derby winner High Chaparral has been put to sleep following exploratory colic
surgery; it was discovered he had a perforated intestine. More I’ve
filled my car with petrol, cleaned it too ... so I’m all set for any trips
over the Christmas period. The weather
forecast for Boxing Day is a frosty start with temperatures slow to rise and
reaching around 7 degrees. But at
least it’s going to be dry! I’ve not
extra days holiday over the Christmas/New Year period, but this Wednesday is
a half day, as is next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. And I’ve
now booked two tickets to see Pasha Kovalev at the Watford Colosseum next
June, I’m going with Lesley; Caroline Flack and Pasha having been crowned
this year’s Strictly Come Dancing Champions last night. |
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Saturday 20 December 2014 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Ascot: The
Tourard Man (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Novices’
Handicap Hurdle (12 ran); he was beaten by Carruthers’ full-brother, Flintham,
who made all. Medinas
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Long Walk Hurdle (Grade 1)
(5 ran). The race had a very exciting
conclusion with the long-time leader, Reve De Sivola, rallying after the last
to claim the prize from Zarkandar; the latter had looked odds-on having made
his challenge and initially gone two lengths clear on the run-in. The winner has now equalled Big Bucks’
record in the race, with three consecutive wins; only Baracouda having won
more with four victories in this event.
More Irish
Saint won the Graduation Chase; Puffin Billy took a crashing fall at the last
but, fortunately, he was okay and lives to fight another day. Unlike poor Lancetto who lost his life
having fractured a humerus in the 2 miles 1 furlong Handicap Chase. More Here is a
photograph of Puffin Billy, safe and sound at home following the race: https://twitter.com/LisaKozak/status/546346438104719361/photo/1 The
Ladbroke Hurdle was won by Irish-raider, Bayan. However, the winning rider received a
15-day ban together with a £3,150 fine for overuse of his whip; and Sam
Twiston-Davies on the runner-up received a 4-day ban for the same
offence. More The Young
Master gained compensation for his disqualification at Wincanton by winning
the Silver Cup Handicap Chase. More Haydock Park: Kumbeshwar
(Lucinda Russell/Craig Nichol) finished 7th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles]
(8 ran). The Pirate’s Queen (Alan King/Denis
O’Regan) won the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (5 ran); Denis said
he spoke at length to Choc yesterday evening regarding how to ride the mare,
“produce her as late as possible”. More Araldur
(Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles] (6
ran). Un De Sceaux put in a clear round to win at
Fairyhouse today. More Ruby Walsh will be deserting Vautour, who has
a date at Leopardstown on Boxing Day, in order to ride Faugheen and Champagne
Fever at Kempton Park. More There are
two National Hunt fixtures tomorrow, at Fakenham and Lingfield Park, but no
runners of interest. It’s probably
fortunate in the case of the Alan King yard as it’s their staff Christmas
Party this evening! It was my work
department’s Christmas lunch yesterday but, as I’d already booked the day as
leave before they arranged it, I decided not to back-track on principle! |
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Friday 19 December 2014 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Ascot: Yanworth
(Alan King/AP McCoy) finished 2nd in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (Listed)
(13 ran). Uttoxeter: Smart
Motive (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 4th in the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle
(10 ran). Tomorrow
there are three National Hunt fixtures, Newcastle, Ascot and Haydock Park,
with runners of interest at the latter two: Ascot: 12:45 The
Tourard Man (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle 14:25
Medinas (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Long Walk Hurdle (Grade 1); he has
just four rivals – Aubusson, Dell’Arca, Zarkandar and Reve De Sivola, the
latter going for his third consecutive win in the race. There was
a £25,000 field-size bonus for this race ... but still only 5 runners have
been declared. Haydock Park: 12:00
Kumbeshwar (Lucinda Russell/Craig Nichol) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] 13:30 The
Pirate’s Queen (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 15:15
Araldur (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles] Presenting
Lisa was Alan King’s 50th winner of the season. Also news
that West End Rocker will be aimed at Warwick’s Classic Chase, which is run
in January, followed by the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter in March. I was
filling up space on a DVD earlier today and discovered an RUK item I’d missed
from Cheltenham’s Open Meeting regarding the Weighing Room
refurbishment. Evidently the wall
behind the scales now features photographs of jockeys, past and present, who
have ridden at least 50 winners at the course. Members of the very exclusive ‘50 Club’ include AP McCoy, Ruby Walsh
and Choc. I just hope my favourite
jockey will be okay and perhaps add to that tally in the future ... |
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Thursday 18 December 2014 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Exeter: Midnight
Cateria (Alan King/Jack Doyle) was a non-runner in the Mares’ Novices’
Handicap Chase. The
Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Mr Harley Cornock) finished 9th and Always Bold
(Martin Keighley/Mr Archie Bellamy) finished 4th in the Amateur Riders’
Handicap Hurdle (16 ran). Towcester: Dusky
Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished a neck 2nd in the Maiden Hurdle
(11 ran). Kincora
Fort (Noel Williams/James Banks) finished 4th and Tiger Feat (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 6th in the Novices’ Hurdle (8 ran). Monty’s
Revenge (Martin Keighley/Christopher Ward) finished 3rd in the Handicap Chase
[3 miles & ½ a furlong] (9 ran). Presenting Lisa (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (7 ran); Wayne’s
18th winner of the
season. Darren
Bird has put pen to paper in celebration of Presenting Lisa’s win: https://twitter.com/DarrenBirdie/status/545681757652418560/photo/1 Hannah
Bishop, Liz Prowting’s Racing Manager, tells me that Choc was in attendance
at the bloodstock sale (Brightwells at Cheltenham racecourse on 14 November)
when Presenting Lisa was purchased and he liked the mare too! Just two
runners of interest tomorrow: Ascot: 15:40
Yanworth (Alan King/AP McCoy) – Standard Open NH Flat Race (Listed) Uttoxeter: 12:10
Smart Motive (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Simonsig
won’t be ready to take part in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day. More I’m
looking forward to Josses Hill making his chasing debut at Ascot tomorrow. More Here is
the low-down from Martin Keighley in the Gloucestershire press following his
double at Cheltenham last Friday; also Classic Colori’s win on the
all-weather at Lingfield yesterday, their first ever flat winner. More The race
won by Classic Colori was a seller but fortunately he was bought back in;
he’s a particular favourite in the yard, especially with Belinda – she rode
him in the charity race at Newmarket last summer. Mr Mole
won at Exeter today, and Darren Bird also tweeted this amusing cartoon: https://twitter.com/DarrenBirdie/status/545665986540867586/photo/1 I’ve got a
day’s leave tomorrow, so will be chilling out watching the racing from Ascot
p.m. |
|
Wednesday 17 December 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results from Newbury: Winner
Massagot (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 5th in the Juvenile Hurdle (10
ran). Walkon
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished last in the Graduation Chase (4 ran);
but he was returning following an injury sustained in the Grand National, the
ground was testing, and I don’t think 3 miles suits! He’s white now, bar his lower legs! The race was won by the outsider of the
four, Tinker Time, priced at 10-1. Martha
McCandles (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 4th and Miss Minx (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 8th in the Fillies ‘Junior’
Standard Open NH Flat Race (10 ran). Evidently
Kauto Star was far from happy, or at least initially, when taking part in a
dressage display at the Olympia Show yesterday. More Also, a
statue of Kauto Star is due to be unveiled at Kempton Park next week ... but
where has Desert Orchid gone? Surely
they’ve not decided to move or get rid of the statue of the very popular grey
just because they’ve now got Kauto Star in the Parade Ring? https://twitter.com/kemptonparkrace/status/545208972022513665/photo/1 Tomorrow
there are runners of interest at Exeter and at Towcester: Exeter: 14:20
Midnight Cateria (Alan King/Jack Doyle) – Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Chase 15:50 The
Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Mr Harley Cornock) & Always Bold (Martin
Keighley/Mr Archie Bellamy) – Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle; Archie is son
of Robert and brother of Tom. Towcester: 12:40
Dusky Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Maiden Hurdle 13:40
Kincora Fort (Noel Williams/James Banks) & Tiger Feat (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle 14:10
Monty’s Revenge (Martin Keighley/Christopher Ward) – Handicap Chase [3 miles
& ½ a furlong] 15:40
Presenting Lisa (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat
Race; Lisa is an Irish point-to-point winner and was recently purchased by
Liz Prowting to join her string of horses.
I’ve just
discovered that Pasha Kovalev, from Strictly Come Dancing, will be appearing
in his own dance show ‘Life Through
Dance’ at the Watford Colosseum next June. So there’s a strong possibility this will
be an entry in my 2015 diary! |
|
Tuesday 16 December 2014 |
|
There are
two National Hunt fixtures tomorrow, at Ludlow and Newbury, with
four runners of interest at the latter: 12:10
Winner Massagot (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle 14:15
Walkon (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Graduation Chase. More He’s my
absolute favourite! 15:20
Martha McCandles (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) & Miss Minx (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Fillies ‘Junior’
Standard Open NH Flat Race |
|
Monday 15 December 2014 |
|
Just one
runner of interest today, at Plumpton: Krackatoa
King (Noel Williams/James Banks) finished 2nd in the NH Novices’ Hurdle (7
ran). The race was won by King Edmund,
who is usually known as a steeplechaser these days; but he won at Lingfield
Park on Saturday too, also over hurdles! Ugly Bug
was pulled up in the Handicap Chase at Ffos Las, 8 ran but only 3 finished. Here is a
photograph of Martin Keighley with last Friday’s Cheltenham heroes, Any
Currency (Woody) and Benbane Head (Benny): https://twitter.com/martinkeighley7/status/544573548942340096/photo/1 All being
well, Creepy is heading to Kempton Park on Boxing Day to run in the Grade 1
Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (formerly the Feltham Novices’ Chase); stable-mate
Annacotty won the race last year. Medinas is one of just five entries remaining in Saturday’s
Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. More There are
no runners of interest at the sole National Hunt fixture tomorrow, namely
Catterick. However, field sizes are
holding up well at the track, with 73 runners declared, an average of 10.42
per race. The largest being 16 in the
Juvenile Hurdle and the smallest 4 in the Beginners’ Chase. Note to
self: Endeavour to limit the number of Quality Street toffees I consume! I overdosed on them this afternoon, which
resulted in my suffering from a racing pulse for around an hour. It was very scary. I can only presume that my blood sugar
level soared and then slumped, which usually just makes me feel tired. But not today. |
|
Sunday 14 December 2014 |
|
Just one
runner of interest tomorrow, at Plumpton: 13:15 Krackatoa
King (Noel Williams/James Banks) – NH Novices’ Hurdle Although I
will also include Ugly Bug who runs in the 14:40 Handicap Chase at Ffos Las! Surprise
news that Jamie Spencer has decided not to retire after all; sensible
decision. More Connections
of The New One are undecided as to whether to run him in the Christmas Hurdle
on Boxing Day. More And Pineau
De Re disappointed in a Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle this afternoon. More I’ve
finally proof read and uploaded both parts of my Newbury Diary. Click here |
|
Saturday 13 December 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Cheltenham: Karezak
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Juvenile Hurdle (Triumph
Hurdle Trial) (7 ran); More Doncaster: Kotkiri
(Alan King/Jack Doyle) finished 4th in the Novices’ Hurdle (5 ran). First
Mohican (Alan King/Jack Doyle) bunny-hopped the last, his hindquarters
slipped from under him and he fell in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & ½ a
furlong] (5 ran); it looked nasty, but ATR race-day presenter Robert Cooper
said he galloped rider-less past the post and appeared okay. Another
favourite of mine, Forgotten Gold finished 4th of 5 in the 3-mile Handicap
Chase. Lingfield Park: Monksgold
(Alan King/Denis O’Regan) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Hurdle (8 ran). West End Rocker (Alan King/Tom
Bellamy), who is rising 13 now, won the Veterans’
Handicap Chase (4 ran); Tom Bellamy doesn’t appear to have suffered any
ill-effects from yesterday’s ‘kicking’
at Bangor – he rode a double today.
Trainer Chris Gordon and jockey Tom Cannon teamed up to have three
winners at the track today too. The
Cheltenham race-day didn’t start out well for Sam Twiston-Davies, his mount
in the second race Little Jon ran out through one of the wings; in the third
race Solar Impulse blundered badly at the same fence and was pulled up;
finally, in the feature chase, Caid Du Berlais slithered on landing over the
water-jump and was pulled up.
Niceonefrankie won the latter race. More Fortunately
the day improved for Sam, as The New One won the International Hurdle
impressively; having served a long ban imposed by the BHA, Mad Moose refused
to start once again and he’s been referred back to them and is expected to be
retired, finally! More Rock On
Ruby won the Relkeel Hurdle. More There’s
National Hunt at Southwell and Carlisle tomorrow but no runners of interest. I’ve not
proof-read my Newbury diary yet; but I have almost finished transferring the
long version of the RUK race-day coverage onto DVD. At present
I’m engrossed in reading Bad Things by Michael Marshall who wrote The
Intruders, recently shown as a TV series on BBC2; both books are set in
north-western USA. I’d ordered an item
of jewellery from GalaxyGlassStudio in a city named Ellensburg
in Washington State earlier in the week and yesterday evening I decided to
look at the tracker to check on its progress to the UK. I found Ellensburg and noticed that the
package had been forwarded to and sorted at a place called Yakima, which I
also found on the map. So you can
imagine my surprise when, just an hour or two later, I reached a chapter in
Bad Things where the city of Yakima was mentioned on the first of a number of
occasions! How spooky is that? |
|
Friday 12 December 2014 |
|
Choc was
one of the phone guests on ATR’s Get In show this evening ... but I missed it
as I didn’t find out until too late, when I was reading back through this
evening’s twitter feed. Damn. L However,
ATR did publish a quote from Choc, “I’m
waiting to have some more scans arranged and see what happens in the New
Year.” It’s all
rather depressing ... LLL But,
anyway, my runners of interest certainly did me proud today ... there were
five winners! Cheltenham: Benbane Head (Martin Keighley/Conor
Shoemark) won the Handicap Chase [3 miles 2 furlongs] (10 ran); Martin’s 11th winner of the season. Any Currency (Martin
Keighley/Aidan Coleman) won the Cross Country Handicap Chase (12 ran);
Martin’s 12th winner of the season. Sadly Irish-raider and former Festival
winner Big Shu collapsed and died having been pulled up during the race. Ulzana’s Raid (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won and Fighter Jet (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) finished
9th in the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles]; Wayne’s 17th winner of the season. Miles To
Memphis (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished a very disappointing 5th and
Solstice Star (Martin Keighley/Conor Smith) finished last in the NH Novices’
Hurdle Qualifier (7 ran). Doncaster: Prettyasapicture
(Alan King/Denis O’Regan) was a non-runner in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle. Enter
Paradise (Noel Williams/Gerard Tumelty) was pulled up in the Handicap Hurdle
[3 miles & ½ a furlong] (10 ran). Kuda Huraa
(Alan King/Denis O’Regan) fell in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs] (7
ran). Pride In
Battle (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles
3½ furlongs] (6 ran). Bangor On Dee: Handazan (Alan King/Tom
Bellamy) won the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles] (4 ran). Smart Motive (Alan King/Tom
Bellamy) won the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (5
ran). Bettatogether
(Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 2nd in the Intermediate Open NH Flat Race (5
ran); it was certainly an eventful experience for a couple of the jockeys in
this event, including Tom. Alan’s
charge lashed out and kicked him in the chest prior to the race, and then Tom
had problems getting aboard because, initially, the horse was rearing
up. Another of the runners spooked at
the start and bolted across the course before colliding with the plastic
railings and unseating his rider Graham Watters. However, all five runners set off, but then
one of Graham’s stirrup leathers broke as the horse bolted away from the
starting gate; he did finish, although last, having ridden almost the entire
distance without both irons. With
Benbane Head (Benny) and Any Currency (Woody) making it a very memorable day
for the Martin Keighley yard, here is the report from the ATR website. More It was
good to see Starluck, much greyer now (aren’t we all), back in the winner’s
enclosure too. Also included in this
link is a report regarding Ulzana’s Raid’s race. More Kings
Palace is now the favourite for this season’s RSA Chase having won stylishly
at Cheltenham today. More Meanwhile
Melodic Rendezvous wasn’t so impressive on his chasing debut at Bangor. More Sam Thomas
has confirmed that he will be setting out on a training career next
season. More ATR’s Luke Harvey
referred to this as a revelation ... not really, if one has been following
facebook; I also mentioned it in my Cheltenham diary in mid-October! There are
three National Hunt fixtures tomorrow: Cheltenham: 12:15
Karezak (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle (Triumph Hurdle Trial) Doncaster: There’s a
precautionary inspection at 08:00; it’s a frosty night! 12:30
Kotkiri (Alan King/Jack Doyle) – Novices’ Hurdle 13:05
First Mohican (Alan King/Jack Doyle) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & ½ a
furlong] Another
favourite of mine, Forgotten Gold, runs in the Handicap Chase at 13:40. Lingfield Park: 11:45
Monksgold (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Novices’ Hurdle 13:30 West
End Rocker (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Veterans’ Handicap Chase Concern
about field sizes continues; not taking into account the inevitable
non-runners and second preferences, 52 horses are declared to run at
Cheltenham tomorrow, with solely the feature handicap chase in
double-figures; 48 due at Lingfield Park and 41 at Doncaster. Yet again today’s Bangor On Dee meeting
attracted few horses, with just 34 horses in 7 races. The racehorse population has declined but
the fixture list has not. |
|
Thursday 11 December 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Taunton: Our Phylli
Vera (Alan King/Tom Cannon) was pulled up in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 1
furlong] (13 ran). Prettyasapicture
(Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 3rd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3½
furlongs] (9 ran). Money For
Nothing (Alan King/Jack Doyle) finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase [2 miles
& ½ a furlong] (6 ran). Warwick: Chatez (Alan King/Aidan
Coleman) won the Juvenile Hurdle (13 ran). Gone Too
Far (Alan King/AP McCoy) finished 5th in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle
(9 ran). Hurricane
Vic (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) finished 5th in the Maiden Hurdle. Stoney’s
Treasure (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) was a non-runner and Georgian King (Martin
Keighley/Christopher Ward) finished 4th in the Handicap Chase [3 miles 5
furlongs] (7 ran). Fred Le
Macon (Alan King/Mr Danny Burton) finished 6th in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 5 furlongs] (12 ran). Sutton Mac
(Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) finished 7th in the Standard Open NH Flat
Race (10 ran). Here is a round-up
of today’s action at Warwick, with Alan King issuing a warning that the
owners of Chatez aren’t keen to run their horse in the Triumph Hurdle. More Meanwhile
it’s another busy day tomorrow: Cheltenham: 14:10
Benbane Head (Martin Keighley/Conor Shoemark) – Handicap Chase [3 miles 2
furlongs] 14:40 Any
Currency (Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) – Cross Country Handicap Chase 15:15
Ulzana’s Raid (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Fighter Jet (Alan King/Aidan
Coleman) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles] 15:45
Miles To Memphis (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Solstice Star (Martin
Keighley/Conor Smith) – NH Novices’ Hurdle Qualifier Doncaster: 13:20
Prettyasapicture (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle ... but
she did run today! 14:20
Enter Paradise (Noel Williams/Gerard Tumelty) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles
& ½ a furlong] 14:55 Kuda
Huraa (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs] 15:25
Pride In Battle (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3½
furlongs] – the horse has been off the racecourse for 1125 days through
injury. Bangor On Dee: 14:30
Handazan (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles] 15:05
Smart Motive (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 15:35
Bettatogether (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Intermediate Open NH Flat Race Finally, I
do actually feel relaxed ... so tomorrow I will be chilling out and watching
the racing on TV. |
|
Wednesday 10 December 2014 |
|
There was
National Hunt racing at Hexham and Leicester today but no runners of
interest. However,
it’s a busy day for runners of interest tomorrow: Taunton: 13:10 Our
Phylli Vera (Alan King/Tom Cannon) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 1 furlong] 13:40
Prettyasapicture (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3½
furlongs] 15:10
Money For Nothing (Alan King/Jack Doyle) – Handicap Chase [2 miles & ½ a
furlong] Warwick: 12:30
Chatez (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) – Juvenile Hurdle 13:00 Gone
Too Far (Alan King/AP McCoy) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle 14:00
Hurricane Vic (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) – Maiden Hurdle; I hope he looks
after my ‘big-eared’ favourite. 14:30
Stoney’s Treasure (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) & Georgian King (Martin
Keighley/Christopher Ward) – Handicap Chase [3 miles 5 furlongs]; Alan King’s
charge returns to action after 698 days. 15:00 Fred
Le Macon (Alan King/Mr Danny Burton) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs] 15:30
Sutton Mac (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) – Standard Open NH Flat Race Wayne
Hutchison rode out yesterday and Alan King is hoping that he might be back in
racecourse action by the weekend.
Alan’s highlight of last week was Nyanza winning at Aintree; she was
Alan King’s 1,200th winner. His
biggest sadness this week was the death of the Nicky Henderson-trained Oscar
Whisky; Alan was watching the race with owner Dai Walters who was totally
distraught. Sad news
that Cockney Sparrow has died having succumbed to colic; she won last
season’s Scottish Champion Hurdle and was just five years old. RIP Evidently
Ruby Walsh is undecided whether to ride Faugheen and Champagne Fever at
Kempton Park on Boxing Day or go to Leopardstown to ride Vautour
instead. Mattie Batchelor, who has
recently joined twitter, tweeted that his problem is different ... he has to
choose whether to go his sister’s or his mother-in-law’s for bubble and squeak
on said day! Tomorrow
is my ‘Friday’, yippee! I just hope I can relax this weekend,
finally, as I was plagued with anxiety during my week off at the end of
November and again last weekend. I
might put up the Christmas decorations, although no tree, and of course proof
read my Newbury diary too. |
|
Monday 08 December 2014 |
|
There is
National Hunt racing at Fontwell Park and Uttoxeter tomorrow but no runners
of interest. There’s
upbeat news regarding Sire De Grugy. More More Of
That is to undergo a wind operation following his disappointing run at
Newbury. More Faugheen
will probably run in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. More And Saphir
Du Rheu will run in the Grade 1 Novices’ Chase on the same card. More The next
target for Dodging Bullets is likely to be the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase
at Ascot next month. More Martin
Keighley is concerned that many of his horses are running below par at the
moment, although they cannot offer a logical explanation at present. http://www.martinkeighleyracing.com/Martins_blog.php Thinking
back, Alan King’s horses had a mysterious mid-season slump beginning in early
December last year. Animals aren’t machines and sadly you cannot ask them
what’s wrong ... it must be so frustrating.
|
|
Sunday 07 December 2014 |
|
Just one
runner of interest this afternoon, at Huntingdon: Friendly
Society (Noel Williams/James Banks) finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 5½ furlongs] (11 ran). The
Peterborough Chase went to veteran Wishfull Thinking who put in the best
round of jumping. More No runners
of interest tomorrow, the sole National Hunt fixture being Musselburgh. I guess it
was always a possibility that Balder Succes wouldn’t like yesterday’s ground
at Sandown Park ... I’m thinking back to the day when he and Medinas both
took part in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las, when Choc chose to ride
Balder and Wayne rode last week’s Newbury victor. The limited handicap event took place on 02
February 2013 and it was won by Medinas with Balder Succes a disappointing
8th. The ground was heavy that day; it
was good to soft yesterday on Sandown’s chase course but perhaps he prefers
better. Barry
Geraghty and connections have paid tribute to Oscar Whisky, lost at Sandown
yesterday. More It hasn’t
been Barry’s weekend, as a John Ferguson-trained horse he was riding this
afternoon died after slipping up at Huntingdon today too. I’ve
completed the first draft of my Hennessy Gold Cup Day diary, including race
comments. However, I think I shall
wait until Thursday or Friday to proof read and upload it as I shall have
fresh eyes by then. |
|
Saturday 06 December 2014 |
|
RIP Oscar Whisky Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Sandown Park: Balder
Succes (Alan King/Richard Johnson) finished 4th in the Tingle Creek Chase
[Grade 1] (10 ran); the ground didn’t suit him today. The race was won by Dodging Bullets, but
marred by the death of Oscar Whisky who injured a hind leg when he fell at
the 6th fence. More Aintree: Howwrongcanyoube
(Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 6th in the Novices’ Hurdle (7 ran). Nyanza (Alan King/Denis
O’Regan) won the Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle [Listed] (8 ran). Creepy
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) was a non-runner in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 4 furlongs]. Medermit
(Alan King/Denis O’Regan) finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase [Listed] (4
ran). Sam Winner took the prize by
just 1¼ lengths, with Medermit staying on best at the end to collar Ma
Filleule. However, 9 of the 19 fences
(including the first three and the last three) were omitted due to the low
sun but it didn’t prevent Holywell from unseating. More Champion
Court (Martin Keighley/Ryan Hatch) finished 12th in the Sefton Handicap Chase
[Grand National course] (16 ran); Poole Master was the surprise 25-1 winner
and there was just one faller; jockey Tom Scudamore was delighted to have won
his first race over the Grand National fences. More The Becher
Chase was won by Oscar Time ridden by Sam Waley-Cohen; but there was one
fatality, Irish raider Balbriggan who injured a foreleg on the flat. Fourteen completed the course; there were
no fallers, just 3 unseated. More Chepstow: Dueling
Banjos (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 5th in the Standard Open NH Flat
Race (8 ran). And
Kumbeshwar ran in a handicap hurdle at Wetherby; he finished 4th of 6. Vibrato
Valtat won Sandown’s now Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase. More Just one
runner of interest tomorrow, at Huntingdon: 12:35
Friendly Society (Noel Williams/James Banks) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5½
furlongs] The
Peterborough Chase takes place tomorrow, with Wishfull Thinking, Wonderful
Charm, Eduard, De Boitron, French Opera and Rajdhani Express due to run. It’s an excellent idea to schedule this
Grade 2 event as part of a Sunday fixture, rather than its usual Thursday
slot. Next year,
the first National Hunt fixture of Sandown’s 2015/2016 season will take place
on a Sunday, not its usual Saturday. I
like Sunday racing but very rarely get the opportunity to go; although it
does make it more difficult to keep up with my resultant diary updates. Excellent
news, my Kempton Park Boxing Day ticket and parking badge arrived today. J Meanwhile
Choc has been to Paris to visit a thoroughbred bloodstock sale (ARQANA) ... |
|
Friday 05 December 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Sandown Park: Ordo Ab
Chao (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) finished 4th in the Novices’ Hurdle [Grade 2]
(5 ran); it was a hot race despite the lack of numbers and he just didn’t get
home in the conditions, having been travelling well when turning into the
home straight. Exeter: Salmanazar
(Alan King/Paul Moloney) finished 3rd and The Wexfordian (Martin
Keighley/Aidan Coleman) was pulled up in the Novices’ Chase (8 ran); Saphir
Du Rheu won the race. Bar A Mine
(Alan King/Paul Moloney) finished 6th in the NH Novices’ Hurdle Qualifier (18
ran); the horse sports the Dai Walters colours. The runners jumped just 4 flights during
the race due to the low sun! Benbane Head
(Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) took the wrong course in the Handicap Chase
[4 miles] (11 ran). Board Of Trade (Alan King/Aidan
Coleman) won and Morning Herald (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
finished a close 3rd in the ‘Junior’
Standard Open NH Flat Race (12 ran); priced 6-1 and 50-1 respectively! Richard
Johnson picked up a 12-day ban for his error during the marathon 4-mile event
at Exeter, resulting in him being on the sidelines from 19 December to 02
January inclusive. Thus he misses a
number of important races over the Christmas period including the King George
VI Chase but, looking on the bright side, he will be able to spend more time
with his three children, Willow, Caspar and Percy. I feel
sorry for Richard as there will always be human error, and I think
racecourses could do more to help prevent it.
Cones were placed across the inner track on the top bend to prevent
riders taking the wrong line but, further along and just prior to the water
jump, there was the gap where Richard chose to go the second time around
too. And all because on the first
circuit the water-jump has to be omitted, to prevent it being the first jump
due to its location. More Talking of
the King George, I’ve been worrying because I’ve not received my ticket and
parking badge for Boxing Day yet, especially as I ordered them on 10
September. So I phoned the ticket line
today, an advisor checked my booking details and confirmed the tickets were
printed on Monday of this week. She
said that, as I’d requested they be sent via special ‘signed for’ delivery, it may take up to a week to arrive. This being the case, they should be here by
next Monday or Tuesday at the latest.
Phew! And I know that the
Christmas post is currently delaying items too. Anyway,
there are four National Hunt fixtures tomorrow, Aintree, Chepstow, Sandown
Park and Wetherby, with runners of interest at three of them: Aintree: 12:00
Howwrongcanyoube (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Novices’ Hurdle 12:30
Nyanza (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle [Listed] 14:05
Creepy (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4
furlongs] 14:40
Medermit (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Handicap Chase [Listed]; just 4 runners,
his rivals being Holywell, Sam Winner and Ma Filleule. More 15:15
Champion Court (Martin Keighley/Ryan Hatch) – Sefton Handicap Chase [Grand
National course] There are
25 runners in the Becher Chase at 13:30 run over the Grand National course
too. Chepstow: 15:45
Dueling Banjos ... aka Pickle (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Standard Open NH
Flat Race Sandown Park: 15:00
Balder Succes (Alan King/Richard Johnson) – Tingle Creek Chase [Grade 1]; he
has nine rivals, namely Dodging Bullets, God’s Own, Hinterland, Oscar Whisky,
Somersby, Third Intention, Vukovar, William’s Wishes and Pepite Rose. Steve
Ayres, the lad who looks after Balder Succes, tweeted to say that he’ll be
too nervous to sleep tonight which, in this instance, he says will be to his
advantage as he has to feed the Aintree runners at 03:45! I had
hoped to spend most of my time working on my Newbury diary today but, in the
event, I just got sidetracked into doing not much at all until early
evening! Never mind, as things stand, I’ve
got until Christmas to complete it.
But I did manage to finish a Sudoku puzzle which I’ve been trying to
figure out for 4 days! When stuck, it
does help to put the puzzle down and come back later with fresh eyes ... but
not on this occasion. |
|
Thursday 04 December 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Market Rasen: Pain Au
Chocolat (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) finished ¾’s of a length 2nd in the
Juvenile Hurdle (11 ran). Desert Joe
(Alan King/Denis O’Regan) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
(6 ran). Dardanella
(Alan King/Jamie Moore) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5
furlongs] (6 ran). Wincanton: Ziga Boy (Alan King/Tom
Bellamy) won the Handicap Chase [3 miles 1½ furlongs] (10
ran). Ronaldinho
(Alan King/Noel Fehily) finished a short-head 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles] (12 ran). Wishing And Hoping (Alan King/Richard
Johnson) won and Chance Taken (Noel Williams/James Banks)
finished 10th in the Maiden Open NH Flat Race (14 ran); the winner sports the
Smad Place silks. Tomorrow
there is National Hunt racing from Sandown Park and Exeter: Sandown Park: 13:55 Ordo
Ab Chao (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Novices’ Hurdle [Grade 2] Exeter: 13:10
Salmanazar (Alan King/Paul Moloney) & The Wexfordian (Martin
Keighley/Aidan Coleman) – Novices’ Chase ... bearing in mind that both Deputy
Dan and Saphir Du Rheu also run in this event. 14:15 Bar
A Mine (Alan King/Paul Moloney) – NH Novices’ Hurdle Qualifier 15:20
Benbane Head (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) – Handicap Chase [4 miles] 15:50
Board Of Trade (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) & Morning Herald (Martin
Keighley/Ian Popham) – ‘Junior’
Standard Open NH Flat Race; good to see Ian Popham back in action following
his recent spell on the sidelines having broken a collarbone. News that
Richard Johnson has been booked to ride Balder Succes in Saturday’s Tingle
Creek Chase. More When he
wrote his Horse and Hound column on Monday, Richard wasn’t sure if he’d have
a ride in the race; but as soon as I read that, and knowing that Wishfull
Thinking was heading to Huntingdon on Sunday for the Peterborough Chase, this
was the obvious booking for Balder Succes.
I’ve come
to the conclusion that I should purchase a copy of ‘Weekender’ each week to find out any news in Alan King’s column
regarding Choc; this week’s issue gives a little more information: ‘Wayne Hutchinson was
told to have three to four weeks of rest and he’s on week two now, while I
don’t think they’re going to look at Choc Thornton again until Christmas.’ Alan is
also very close to the 1,200 winner mark since he began training, which
includes over 120 flat winners. He
states that he is 5 short of this total ... I’m not sure if The Tourard Man
is one of the 1,195 or one of the five ... but he’s definitely added another
two today, with two very near misses too!
The riders
due to compete in the Cheltenham Festival’s Charity Race have been
announced. More And this
has happened before, at Cheltenham a few years ago; Irish jockeys on that
occasion too I recall. More |
|
Wednesday 03 December 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results from Ludlow: Mystery
Drama (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 4th in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (7
ran). Uriah Heep
(Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 3rd in the Handicap Chase [2 miles] (8 ran). Three
National Hunt fixtures tomorrow, Leicester, Market Rasen and Wincanton, with
runners of interest at the latter two: Market Rasen: 12:20 Pain
Au Chocolat (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Juvenile Hurdle; Chocolate Croissant
... Chocolate pain may be more appropriate at the moment L 13:20
Desert Joe (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 14:25
Dardanella (Alan King/Jamie Moore) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs] Wincanton: 14:15 Ziga
Boy (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Chase [3 miles 1½ furlongs] 14:45
Ronaldinho (Alan King/Noel Fehily) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] 15:50
Wishing And Hoping (Alan King/Richard Johnson) & Chance Taken (Noel
Williams/James Banks) – Maiden Open NH Flat Race At
Christmas, my employer organises an Advent Calendar prize draw for the Head
Office staff; this year the vouchers are £10 to be spent at Amazon, as
opposed to Tesco as in previous years.
I never used to win but, during the past five years I must have been
lucky on four of occasions, as my name was pulled out of the hat yet again
today! In fact, on nearly every
occasion, my name appears during the first week! And I still don’t think of myself as
particularly lucky. However, I’ve
never won the £50 Christmas Eve prize ... I’m
feeling a little less tired today, although I did work two hours
overtime. And I’ve got plenty of time
available to complete my Newbury diary, as I’ve booked Friday as annual leave
too. |
|
Tuesday 02 December 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Southwell: The Tourard Man (Alan King/Richard
Johnson) won the Novices’ Hurdle (6 ran). Spanish
Arch (Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [3
miles ½ a furlong] (7 ran). Two
National Hunt fixtures tomorrow, at Catterick and Ludlow, with two runners of interest at the latter. 13:40
Mystery Drama (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle 14:40
Uriah Heep (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Chase [2 miles] Yesterday
I uploaded a number of photographs taken at Newbury on Saturday and, despite
feeling shattered this evening following another very busy day at work, I
have completed the task. Click here to view. |
|
Monday 01 December 2014 |
|
There are
two National Hunt fixtures tomorrow, Sedgefield and Southwell, with
runners of interest at the latter: 13:15 The
Tourard Man (Alan King/Richard Johnson) – Novices’ Hurdle 13:50
Spanish Arch (Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles ½ a
furlong] With the
defection of Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy, there are currently 18 entries
for next Saturday’s Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park; this includes Balder
Succes ... and Mad Moose! More Also news
that Uxizandre may be heading over to Ireland for a Grade 1 Chase at Leopardstown
on 27th December. More It was
back to work for me today. It didn’t
help that my colleague had booked two days leave unbeknownst to me ... so I
had even more work than I’d bargained for today – so that was 9.5 hours
without a break; 2 hours unpaid. L |
